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Estimated costs for planned renovations to the Rockbridge County schools’ Innovation (formerly Floyd S. Kay) Center are climbing and could possibly affect the timetable for construction.
Architectural firm Spectrum Design recently provided an estimate of $12,047,851 for the renovation project. Heretofore the contemplated cost was $8 million, which was derived from a division-wide feasibility study of the schools’ capital needs that was conducted four years ago.
The maximum borrowing amount for the project approved by the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors is $9 million. The Board had planned to seek funding through the Virginia Resources Authority’s spring pool but because of the higher estimated costs, has opted to wait and seek funding through the VRA’s fall pool.
It is hoped that by delaying funding, the School Board will be able to extend the period between awarding the contract and construction commencement, thus increasing interest among potential bidders and potentially The current timetable calls for advertising a request for bids June 1, having a June 30 deadline for bids to be in, awarding a contract July 11 and starting construction soon thereafter in order to have the project completed for the start of school in August of 2024.
However, a mid-summer start date could reduce the number of bidders because of other commitments, County Administrator Spencer Suter explained in an April 6 memorandum to the Board of Supervisors. Allowing more flexibility for a start date may increase the interest in bidding and lower costs because of increased competition. Such a scenario could push back the completion date for the project to after the 20242025 school year starts.
If the estimated price tag for the project of $12,047,851 proves accurate, the county’s share would be $10,169,591 and Lexington’s share would be $1,878,260. These amounts could be reduced if an application for a $1,204,785 School Construction Assistance Program grant from the Virginia Department of Education is successful.
